Thursday, September 11, 2008

Sometimes the only way is JUMPING

"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid."Franklin P. Jones

Life requires a certain amount of bravery in order to actually live it. It was brave of us to take our first steps, little did we know that those tiny steps were only the beginning but had we not taken them, had we not been brave enough to let go of the coffee table and attempt running into our Mother's arms, we would have never walked. We would have rolled around on the floor waiting for someone to pick us up forever.

It was bravery that helped us apply for our first jobs, to ask someone out without knowing their response, to wear capri pants to school before everyone else was (yes that was me....people thought they were strange until everyone was wearing them the next year), to eat wasabi and to attempt parallel parking for the first time.

Often we forget that even the tiniest actions of ours have required even the smallest dose of bravery in order to perform them. I don't believe our lives should ever be governed by fear...sure, that doesn't mean you should throw yourself into the bears den at the zoo and hope to pull off Anchorman stunts, but it means allowing yourself do things in spite of fear.

I can't even tell you the amount of times I've considered going back to ballet class, or trying to pick up with guitar again; how many times I've sat down to write something but I was afraid it wouldn't come out right so I didn't say anything at all. I've said no to opportunity before, afraid I wouldn't be able to live up and I've pushed people away, afraid that I'd fail them.

Subconsciouslyfear takes part in our every day lives....it keeps us from saying what we mean, from being the way we want, from doing what we desire, from going after something that seems elusive and beyond reach. So for now, I've decided to be brave instead. Am I afraid of things? Absolutely, every single day. I'm pretty sure it was Madonna who said something like, she makes it a point to face at least ONE THING that she's afraid of every day no matter what....considering she's also the same woman who said she was going to "conquer the world" progression through fear had to play an important role in her life. Look where it's gotten her....I'm quite sure she doesn't regularly opt out, or make excuses to hide the fact that she's actually just, too afraid to do something.

Often we say "no" before we let ourselves BE brave.

With my trip just four days away, BRAVERY is my motto. With today being September 11th there's a feeling of bravery that is tangible.....the bravery from the people who lost their lives, the bravery of the soldiers who are in Iraq or deployed overseas, the bravery of our country standing together when we could have easily fallen to pieces in fear. To everyone who was brave on that day and to everyone who is being brave for those of us who can't, or aren't willing to, thank you.

Though it's on such a smaller scale compared to fighting in wars, or running into buildings to save lives, we ALL have our moments of bravery. We all share different degrees of what bravery means to us....

Whether you've been brave enough to tell someone how you feel, to embrace uncertainty to pursue a dream, to get up and speak your mind even if you're in a room full of people who disagree; to cook for your Mother in law when you're only accustomed to using the microwave, to learn how to cry, to feel uncomfortable and move through it, to tell a stranger they have spinach in their teeth- cause you know they'll secretly be grateful later, to run with bulls in Spain...whatever it is you've done to be brave, I salute you.

Maybe there are some things that you WISH you were brave enough to do, to be, to say. Courage to be brave is a choice, a simple decision to leap and to say FUCK IT to whatever anyone else thinks, to the nagging "what if I fail" moments, or to your own self doubt.....FUCK IT.

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live."

So today, I am going to be brave. Tomorrow I'm going to be brave and sometimes, that just means getting up and making it to the gym when you think you're too out of shape. My thoughts, my love goes to all the families who lost someone on Sept 11th and to the families of the troops and to the men and women overseas.....thank YOU for being brave.

25 comments:

I moved to England to escape a damaging (yet irresistible) relationship and lived by myself for a year. I traveled to places where I didn't speak the language. I still can't believe I had the guts to do it, especially since I've been living a very vanilla life since I came home. Have a fabulous time! Be brave (but safe!)

For me, who is the embodiment of "homebody" picking up my life on three separate occasions to move somewhere I knew no one, had no job, and had no safety net...strangely though, sometimes it's harder for me to join in a conversation than it was to make those moves.

Three and a half years ago I made a choice. I chose to fuck what everyone else thinks, and I started dating the girl I was in love with. I got kicked out of my house, but bravely moved to another province, on my own, at 17. I had MANY "What if I fail?" moments, as well as "What if this is all so fucking wrong, and everyone is so fucking right?" moments. But 3.5 years later, those doubts are gone, and I am so glad I had the courage to stand up to everyone, and my own self doubts.

that was beautiful. for me bravery has always been speaking my mind. i used to keep my mouth closed more often than not. i'm getting better at it though. it's always a little scary to voice an opinion when second guessing is second nature.

as for future bravery, i'm working on something. not even brave enough to say what i want to do just yet.

I two days ago broke up with my SO to open myself to my (potential) truest happiness. I have no job, no place to go but many ideas and much faith. I will also likely take a bath on the 5000 sq ft house we share but will sell in this crazy market.

Awesome post, love the pic at the top, that would freak me out HA! I used to be more brave, but then grew up and had more fears! I agree with Hillary when she says be brave, but safe....makes good sense.

The bravest thing I did this year was to stop hoping that everything would simply work out because I wished it and simply asked for what I wanted. I knew he wouldn't agree to it but I'm glad I did it. I'm still a bit sad though. I wish that I didn't have to break off all contact with him. But ... this is for the best.

Just shouting a warm welcome to my darling continent Chelsea - keep on being brave and I'm sure you'll find the experience super rewarding in every way :). No need to freak out, traveling in l'Europe is pure soul food!

Drop a comment on my blog if you suddenly decide to stop by Sweden... ;)

Most recently? Ask a guy out, have him say that he will get back to me later in the week to confirm timing, and eventually never getting a call.

My mantra is what is your entire post right now. Just do it (whoo to Nike's brand designer!), because you might regret not doing what your gut feels, but what your brain thinks as stupid. Thank you for this post.

And have a great one in Europe! In a year's time I should, no, WILL, be doing what you have planned to do: Travel. See the world. Live it all.

I'm quitting drinking. For realz. And to do it, I posted a very honest account of my alochol problems on my blog for all the intertubes to see. That was scary, but it has made me brave enough to really do this - because you can't let the blogoshpere down!

I told my boyfriend exactly what I wanted in the future...which was really scary because he's not sure he wants the same thing. Hopefully he'll be brave enough to take on marriage and a family some day and I won't have to be brave enough to leave him.

Hello there. Just sending some respect from down under. You're writing is fantastic and I love you're style. In between your adventures come have a read of some of my stuff! We have some rather similar views I think :)

Excellent post Chelsea! I probably made the bravest decision of my life so far last month. I left an abusive relationship in California and moved back to NY to be around family and friends again. It wasn't easy but the freedom I now feel is indescribable :)